Parachute pack container



Marh 14, 1939.

F. Mc :,L\FRo| PARACHUTE PACK CONTAINER Filed sept. 2e, 193s INVENTORFRA NC/ /Vlc CARROLL #ff/WQ ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 14, 1939 UNIT EDySTATES PATEN T .0 FF I@ E 4 Claims.

(Granted Vunder the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3700. G. 757) This invention Arelates to a parachute pack container and hasfor an object to provide an improved container flap opening mechanismwhich will operat-e more quickly and more certainly than the presentconventional type of flap opener.

A further object of this invention is to so arrange the openingmechanism of a parachute pack container flap that there will be apositive opening action when the rip cord has been pulled, even though along period of time may have elapsed since the parachute was packed inthe container.

Still a further object of this invention is to eliminate theconventional snap fasteners used for holding the end of the protectorpart of the flap in protecting position yet make it possible for thecones, grommets and rip cord locking pins to be readily accessible forinspection.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a parachute packcontainer flap opening mechanism which will open the container byremoving the flap by a rolling motion positively lifting the grommetsfrom the cones, rather than pulling them against the cones, as necessaryWith the present mechanism, which present mechanism often causes theflap to hesitate in opening, and sometimes even fails to open,particularly if the pack has been unopened for a considerable period oftime.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed and illustrated in the drawing, in which Fig. l is a top planpartly X-ray view of a parachute pack container flap with the openingmechanism of this invention therein.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 just after the initial opening stephas commenced.

There is shown at I0 a parachute pack container having the rip cordconduit II through which passes the rip cord I2 having the rip cord pinsI3 extending through eyes I4 of the cones I5 secured to the inner ap I5as by stitching I1, the parachute pack I8 being contained therewithin.The outer flap 20 is provided with grommets 2I adapted to pass over thecones I5, the grommets 2| also serving for securing a patch flap 22 tothe outer flap 2li, the patch nap 22- being folded back to form aprotector flap 23. The customary side flaps 24 are each provided withtabs 25 having grommets 26 which t over the cones I5 beneath the pinsi3, the side aps 213 being provided with opening elastics 21 and theusual hooks 28 to be secured to elastic anchorages or eyes 3U on thetabs 25. Similar elastics 3! with their hooks 32 are secured at one endto elastic anchorages or eyes 33 on the end of flap i6 and at the otherend instead of being secured to the outer flap 20 or the patch flap 22,as customary, the hooks 34 are secured to elastic anchorages or eyes 35which are secured to the inside of the protecting flap 23 adjacent theedge thereof, as shown.

In operation, when it is desired to inspect the rip cord pins I3 andcones I5 the protecting iiap 23 may be raised against the resistingforce of the elastics 3l sufficiently to allow the same to be inspected,or, if desired, the hooks 34 are merely released from the eyes 35,allowing the protecting flap 23 to be raised Without resistance.

When the parachute is operated in the customary manner by pulling therip cord I2 through the rip cord conduit II the pins I3 will bewithdrawn from the eyes I of cones I5, releasing the ap 2l] and tabs 25to the pull of their elastics 21 and 3|. The elastic 3l being secured tothe protecting flap 23 tends to lift the grommet 2| off the cones I5,likewise lifting the grommets simultaneously, providing a rolling actionof the grommets off the cones rather than a sliding action of thegrommets against the sides of the cones. The separation of the grommetsfrom the cones and thus of the aps from each other is therefore morepositive and likewise somewhat quicker than is possible with the oldstyle of opening devices, for the ends of the flap are pulled positivelyaway from each other rather than in a sliding motion wherein the conemay provide an obstruction or separation.

Other modifications and changes in the proportions and arrangements ofthe parts may 'be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the nature of the invention, within the scope of what ishereinafter claimed.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and/or used by or forthe Government of the United States o-f America for governmentalpurposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, whatis claimed is:

1. A parachute pack container flap-opening device wherein an upper flaphas a grommet releasably secured by a rip cordl pin extending through anaperture in a cone secured to a lower flap, the upper flap being alsoprovided with a protecting ap folded over the grommet and cone andincluding elastic means anchored at one end to the lower flap, anchoragemeans for the other end of said elastic means secured to the protectingap adjacent the end thereof.

2. Means for opening a parachute-pack container overlapped aps whereinthe under ap is provided with an apertured rip cord pin receiving coneand the upper flap is provided with a grommet through which said coneextends to receive the ripl cord pin, and a protecting ap secured tosaid upper flap and overlying the rip cord pin and cone, said meansincluding opening elastics anchored at one e-nd to the under flap and atthe other end adjacent the end of the protecting ap of the upper ap tolift the grommet from the cones in a rolling action,

3. In a parachute-pack container having overlapped laps secured togetherby a rip cord pin inserted through an apertured cone secured to thelower flap and extending through the upper flap, means for quicklyseparating the flaps with a relatively rolling motion comprising anopening elastic, anchorage means for the elastic on the lower flap, andanchorage means for the elastic on the upper flap on the fr-ee endthereof extending beyond the securing cone.

4. In a parachute-pack container having overlapped laps secured togetherby a rip cord pin inserted through an apertured cone secured to thelower flap and extending through the upper flap, means for quicklyseparating the flaps with a relatively rolling motion comprising anopening elastic, anchorage means for the elastic on the lower flap, andanchorage means for the elastic on the upper ap on the free end thereofextending beyond the securing cone, said free end being folded back toprovide a protecting ap, said last mentioned anchorage means beinglocated adjacent the end of said protecting flap.

FRANCIS MCCARROLL.

